Work & Power Calculator

Work is the energy transferred when a force moves an object, calculated as force times distance. Power is the work done per unit time, found by dividing work by the elapsed time.

Enter the force (N), distance (m), and time (s) to calculate both work (J) and power (W) at once.

For example, if a 50 N force moves an object 10 m in 5 s, the work is 500 J and the power is 100 W.

Work & Power Calculator Calculation Method

W: work (J), F: force (N), d: distance (m), P: power (W), t: time (s)

Work: 0 J

Power: 0 W

About This Calculator

Work is done when a force moves an object over a distance, and power is the rate at which that work is done. Two people can do the same amount of work while one is far more powerful because they finish faster.

Enter the force, distance and time to get both the work in joules and the power in watts.

Work is force times displacement and power is work per unit time, so lifting a 50 kg load 4 m takes 1,962 J and doing it in two seconds requires 981 W. The same work in half the time doubles the power without changing the work. Sustained human output is roughly 100 to 200 W, while a trained cyclist can hold 400 W.

Key Formula:W = F × d · P = W / t

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between work and power?

Work measures energy transferred, in joules; power measures how fast it is transferred, in watts. Lifting a 10 kg box 2 m is 196 J of work whether it takes one second or one minute — but the power differs 60-fold.

What is one horsepower in watts?

One mechanical horsepower is about 745.7 W, a figure James Watt chose so customers could compare steam engines with the horses they were replacing. A typical microwave uses more power than one horsepower.

Can work be done with no displacement?

No. Pushing a wall as hard as you can does no mechanical work because nothing moves in the direction of the force. Energy may be spent internally, but W = Fd requires a displacement.

Why are watts and horsepower both used?

Both measure power, and one horsepower is about 746 W. A 100 kW engine therefore produces about 134 hp, and Korean vehicle specifications usually list both figures.

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Sources & last update

2026-10-19